How to create a simple install system for VB6 on XP/Vista and ne

ghz 7months ago ⋅ 73 views

How to create a simple install system for VB6 on XP/Vista and newer?

Heavy emphasis on simple. I've never made an installer and I'd rather not have to learn much. A system that I could hand a pile of files to and it would make some smart guesses about where to put them would be ideal.

Go ahead and answer the general question.

However In my cases I'm stuck with some extra constraints. The program to be installed is written in VB6 (or is it 5?) and a few previous versions of VB, so it's not going to be updated any time soon. I have a running install and will have a Clean VM to play with So I'll be doing a loop of: run the install, find where it's broken, fix it, add that to the installer, revert the VM, try again. If anyone has a better approach I'm open to suggestions.

I MUST get it working on XP and I'd really like to also have something that will work on newer versions of Windows as well.

Answers

Creating an installer for a VB6 application can indeed be straightforward, especially if you use tools designed to handle most of the complexity for you. Here are some recommended tools and a step-by-step approach to create a simple installer that can work on Windows XP as well as newer versions of Windows.

Recommended Tools for Creating an Installer

  1. Inno Setup

    • Description: Inno Setup is a free and easy-to-use installer for Windows programs. It offers a simple script-based installation process that can be customized as needed.
    • Website: Inno Setup

  2. NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System)

    • Description: NSIS is another free tool for creating Windows installers. It's highly customizable and script-based, but has a steeper learning curve compared to Inno Setup.
    • Website: NSIS

Step-by-Step Guide using Inno Setup

Step 1: Download and Install Inno Setup

  1. Download Inno Setup from the official website.
  2. Install Inno Setup on your development machine.

Step 2: Prepare Your VB6 Application Files

  1. Collect all the necessary files for your VB6 application. This typically includes:
    • The compiled .exe file.
    • Any necessary .dll or .ocx files.
    • Configuration files, help files, etc.

Step 3: Create the Inno Setup Script

  1. Open Inno Setup and choose to create a new script file using the wizard.
  2. Follow the wizard steps to specify the application information:
    • Application name and version.
    • Application destination directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\MyApp).
    • Main executable file.
  3. Add all the files required by your application.
  4. Specify shortcuts to be created (e.g., on the Desktop or Start Menu).
  5. Configure the setup language and output settings.

Here is an example of a simple Inno Setup script for a VB6 application:

[Setup]
AppName=My VB6 Application
AppVersion=1.0
DefaultDirName={pf}\MyVB6App
DefaultGroupName=My VB6 Application
OutputBaseFilename=MyVB6AppSetup
Compression=lzma
SolidCompression=yes

[Files]
Source: "C:\Path\To\Your\Files\MyApp.exe"; DestDir: "{app}"; Flags: ignoreversion
Source: "C:\Path\To\Your\Files\MyLibrary.dll"; DestDir: "{app}"; Flags: ignoreversion regserver
Source: "C:\Path\To\Your\Files\MyControl.ocx"; DestDir: "{app}"; Flags: ignoreversion regserver
Source: "C:\Path\To\Your\Files\*"; DestDir: "{app}"; Flags: ignoreversion recursesubdirs createallsubdirs

[Icons]
Name: "{group}\My VB6 Application"; Filename: "{app}\MyApp.exe"
Name: "{commondesktop}\My VB6 Application"; Filename: "{app}\MyApp.exe"

[Run]
Filename: "{app}\MyApp.exe"; Description: "{cm:LaunchProgram,My VB6 Application}"; Flags: nowait postinstall skipifsilent

Step 4: Build the Installer

  1. Save your script and click "Compile" in Inno Setup.
  2. The output will be a single .exe installer file that you can distribute.

Step 5: Test the Installer

  1. Use a clean VM with Windows XP to test your installer.
  2. Install the application and verify that it works correctly.
  3. Repeat the process for other versions of Windows to ensure compatibility.

Additional Tips

  • Dependency Registration: Ensure all necessary VB6 runtime files, DLLs, and OCX files are included and properly registered. This can be handled in the [Files] section of the Inno Setup script with the regserver flag.
  • Permissions: On newer versions of Windows, make sure your installer requests the necessary permissions (e.g., admin rights) if needed for file registration.
  • Testing Loop: Use your clean VM setup as planned to iterate and test the installation process. This ensures that you catch all necessary components and configurations.

Summary

Inno Setup offers a user-friendly way to create an installer for your VB6 application that will work on Windows XP and newer versions of Windows. By following the steps outlined above, you can create an installer with minimal learning curve and ensure your application is properly installed and registered on target systems.

#VB6